Born in London, Teddy Flack’s family emigrated to Australia when he was still an infant. He attended the Melbourne Church of England School, where he studied classics, and in 1893-94, after joining the Old Melburnian Harriers, he was Victorian and Australasian mile champion, and won the New South Wales 2-mile championship in 1894. Flack joined his father’s Melbourne accountancy firm, and was sent to Price & Waterhouse in London in 1895. A state champion in the mile, Flack joined the London Athletic Club, and enjoyed minor successes while competing in England. He was the only Australian competitor at the 1896 Olympics, and wound up becoming his country’s first Olympic champion. He won both the 800 m and the 1500 m relatively easy. In his enthusiasm, Teddy Flack also entered the marathon. Lacking long distance experience, he had to abandon the race after leading for a quarter of the race. He also entered the tennis competition, but lost both his matches. Flack competed in England in 1896 and 1897, but returned to Melbourne in 1899, where he would be become a successful businessman and owned a stud farm. Suffering of heart troubles, he died following an operation at age 62.
Personal Bests: 800 – 2:07.0y (1894); 1500 – unknown; 1mile – 4:38.2 (1895); Mar – unknown.
Australia